5 Minutes With... Zach Osborne
Wednesday, March 20, 2013 | 12:50 PM
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PrintGEICO Honda’s Zach Osborne showed up at the first two rounds of the AMSOIL GNCC Series and carded two podium finishes in the XC2 Lites class. But his real job is to grab podiums in Monster Energy West Region 250SX and the Lucas Oil Pro Motocross Championship. So, did his little foray in the woods help or hurt his chances? We called him to find out.
Racer X: First, let’s talk supercross. Were you ever really able to show what you had?
Zach Osborne: Not really. A1, I fell in the first turn and I came back to seventh, which was a pretty good ride. In Phoenix I crashed and hurt my shoulder. I ended up bruising the head on my humerus and partially tore my labrum and my rotator cuff. But now we’ve got that fixed up, so I decided to do some GNCC stuff.
What made you decide to do that?
Well, first I had to get permission from the team, and then I did some longer motos on my 450 to get ready for it. I wanted to do it because I think you can learn a lot about your bike in longer races on different terrain. I did some hare scrambles last year, but not as big as GNCCs, and I did okay at those. But this was just to put myself out there in a three-hour situation and try to be prepared for outdoors.
These blisters don't look fun (from GA, left), but they look a lot better than they did after the Florida race last week (right).
Zach Osborne photos
I’ve heard mixed things about that. Some say since the race is so different than motocross, it doesn’t really help. What did you get out of it?
I think you just do a lot of soul searching in those three hours. That last hour, I was in a situation I won’t be in with my training for the rest of the year. It’s just so tough and so gnarly. I know Jason Thomas in Racerhead last week said it’s nothing like motocross, but it’s actually kind of unfair to say that until you’ve done one. I went into it thinking the same thing, but I was way off base. In this Florida race, I was on the limit most of the day. When you’re in that race mode, you don’t save much, you just push and push and push. That’s why I was sick and throwing up off the podium. It was just hard at the end of the day.
Then we saw pictures of some gnarly blisters, so I don’t think anyone expected you to go back for round two.
Well, I made a bet with my buddy that if I won or got on the podium in Florida I would do the second race in Georgia. But by Saturday, I wasn’t going to go. My hands were okay but still weren’t perfect. But he told me people were talking crap, telling me I got lucky at the first one because it was sand and I couldn’t do it in the dirt. But it turned out no one was actually talking crap.
Wait, so he was just manipulating you?
Yeah, I was manipulated by Steward Baylor. I just got sucked into the drama! So I left for Georgia in my little pickup truck. I watched some of the first supercross heat race on TV, got in my pickup truck, and drove down to Georgia. Got there about midnight and raced the next day. It turned out okay!
Were you feeling it?
No, I was fine. I would have been riding two days after Florida except that my hands were hurting. But I felt fine. Steward taped by hands, and I followed the same program as far as food and drink. I was really happy the way it turned out.
Here's Osborne's factory rig for the GNCCs.
Zach Osborne photo
I heard you and a rider named Jed Haines had words at mid-race.
We did. We came together in the woods around mid-race. It was a big hit, and it was probably more my fault. I was pissed off. He didn’t even crash, and I waded it up pretty good. I picked myself up and caught back up to him, and in a grass track section, I went inside and took him wide into a berm and stopped him and let him have a little piece of my mind.
So you actually had words with a guy you were battling midway through the race?
Yeah, and he heard me, because he answered, “No it wasn’t” when I told him, “That was dirty and you know it.”
I’ve never heard of a mid-block-pass conversation!
[Laughs] Those are the things you miss out on just going to supercross, Weege. You’ve got to get back to your roots—you started working in this series.
Fair enough—and I think I’m going to the next two races on Sunday after the supercross. This stuff is too good. Any chance you’ll be there, or is it supercross mode again?
Whew! I don’t know, it depends on the weather, I guess.
So you’re telling me there’s a chance?
Actually, it’s not up to me. Like I said to [GNCC announcer] Rodney [Tomblin] on the podium, my team has been really gracious letting me do two of these, and I don’t want to wear out my welcome. I could still do the last four when the Nationals are over. But right now I’ve got a job to do at Seattle, so I need to start riding supercross again. You might see me at Steele Creek just to watch.
Osborne cleaning up after his race in GA.
Ken Hill / GNCC photo
Okay, then let’s switch back to supercross mode. Where should you be when the West kicks back up?
Realistically, I should be a podium guy like I was last year. It’s been a big adjustment, just being back in the U.S. and being on a new team. Everyone has been really patient with me and the team has been very supportive.
Plus, in the U.S., we’re only judging you based on supercross for the last two seasons. But since you were riding the GPs, you’ve got to be looking forward to showing what you can do in motocross, here. Are you counting the days until Hangtown?
Yeah, I would like to think my outdoor season is going to be pretty good. Like I said, some people don’t think doing these two GNCCs will help me, but I disagree. And obviously, if you read all the internet critics, they’ll tell you I’m going to be slow because everyone in Europe is slow. But I can tell you they’re way wrong there.
[Laughs] Man, you’re getting criticized from all angles!
[Laughs] Yeah, but I’m okay with that.
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Any elite level racing experience is good experience. You can never get too familiar with yourself and your equipment under different conditions. I'm totally on board with Zach's train of thought. Outdoor motos will feel like a breeze relative to 3 hours if his speed and conditioning are there for a 30 + 2 sprint.
I completly agree with Zach and have so much new respect for him. I race both Hare scrambles and MX and can say each type has helped the other. MX helped me a ton in corner speed where as scrambles really helped with riding ruts and all saving all those sketchy moments.
You can tell my doing these races Zach just loves riding and racing his bike more than anything else and I repect that even above his obvious crazy skills on a bike. I wish you the best in the rest of your races both in the woods and MX/SX!
@ Retardcross
You are correct not that it will help 15 minutes of wfo on the sx track any biking is better than none....Zach is a focused kid and a good example of not being a wish I did this or I wish I would of done that... He decided at noon on Saturday to race and made it down to Georgia at Midnight.............. GNCC will never get the props or hype it deserves. Although it is MX for 3 hrs you will only get to see what the naked eye can pic up on any givin section.Thats why most head toward a bottle neck area........... This track was like over 9 miles one lap ! And most pro level guys are flying at high sppeed average is probably 25-35 in some tight quarters... This takes a speacial breed.. I know plenty of current and former racers of the series and have ridden with a few............They are plain and simple ANIMALS that will never get there just dues !
Internet critics! Lol
Go 338 . That is awesome on a hundred diff levels. The block chat pass. Haha Yeahhh . He has 39 points in the championship that the guys behind him got blind sided by and there ego. If he is talking about Jason Thomas the SX LCQ super star bout it not helping 338's riding he's wrong j Thomas the SX rider needs to watch his highlight reel to remember he wasnt as good as his " rider perspective" columns
I watched the live timing on GNCC Racing. That Haines must be fast. He came from way back to run down Osbourne then lost his engine on the last lap. Anyone that thinks the GNCC riders arent fast needs to go ride a GNCC! It looks like good riding is good riding where ever it takes place.
go on Zach. you left a lot of fans and good vibes behind you on this side of the pond. if you ever want to see a good whip shot check out the one that zach and tommy searle put together in the middle of a moto at the british grand prix last year .
WHAT THE Calieb Russell helmey cam good stuff...Great perspective of what its like at top level!
Zach- quit reading the comments section, bad for your mental health.
One thing he may have learned is that he should think about different gloves or grips before the nationals start.
I race hare scrambles, and have raced that gncc in Ga. Its brutal! The trail is slap wore out-being the last race held of that weekend. You pretty much HAVE to be a pro athlete to compete at that level for 3 hours. Ive seen it leave people curled up in the fetal position afterwards.
@Uncle Charlie...is right-these racers will never get the credit they deserve from people that dont know offroad.
I have all the respect for Zach now, lookin forward to outdoors already!
Love to hear the Pro MXers perspective when it comes to the woods racing. Especially when it comes down to realizing how little a joke it is. Not all Pros can get out there and do it though, for some it is just too different an animal. I read Ryan Hughes said "never again!" and that was after the Florida round. I've never done the Georgia round, but am willing to bet that there are rounds that will make the GA round look like a cakewalk.
Everyone go here and get a pair of these kevlar glove liners.
http://www.off-roadspecialties.com/
get a size that fit as tight as possible. They will last for 17 races ( 3 hour races )
I've worn these for years.
Then....go sign up for a GNCC or national hare scramble.
My philosophy is this.
When practicing it is too easy to say " DAMN THAT WAS CLOSE" And go sit in the pits drink a red bull then go back out in 5 minutes and ride for another 20 minutes or so. When you pay for a race you want to get the most for your money. At least I do. Plus I'm a competition junky and TRY MY hardest to whip everyone else's butt in the process.
Go ahead and run 3-4 of these. You may be amazed how much your stamina improves. If not physically, most definitely MENTALLY. Your mistakes will go away in a 30 minute moto. Your line running precision will improve 10 fold.
just my .02 .
Everyone go here and get a pair of these kevlar glove liners.
http://www.off-roadspecialties.com/
get a size that fit as tight as possible. They will last for 17 races ( 3 hour races )
I've worn these for years.
Then....go sign up for a GNCC or national hare scramble.
My philosophy is this.
When practicing it is too easy to say " DAMN THAT WAS CLOSE" And go sit in the pits drink a red bull then go back out in 5 minutes and ride for another 20 minutes or so. When you pay for a race you want to get the most for your money. At least I do. Plus I'm a competition junky and TRY MY hardest to whip everyone else's butt in the process.
Go ahead and run 3-4 of these. You may be amazed how much your stamina improves. If not physically, most definitely MENTALLY. Your mistakes will go away in a 30 minute moto. Your line running precision will improve 10 fold.
just my .02 .
I'd add if you live out west, there's the WORCS series. It's a different animal than the GNCC, but if riding time per dollar is what your after, it'll fit the bill.
I would guess Zach gained more Fans by running these races then anything else he's done....Off Road racers tend to be Lifetime Fans/ Riders.. I'm 51 and just ran my 367th race this weekend and I have all the respect for people like Zach than can diversify Good Stuff
@ Señor Wences
Congrats on your mile stone !
@ B-KR
Yes they do get a hell of alot tougher specially when they are mud races Ohio and Indiana are real ball breakers even Unadilla ! LOL !
I liked and respected Zach heading over to GPs to race. I have always supported American riders that go over there to race. I told him so at Southwick National when he came back for that one race. That's where the sport started after all.
@2003RACER8M
I tried the Kevlar glove liners and never cold get used to the added layer.
I use a few, well placed strips of 3M Transpore tape on my hand and haven't had blisters even when riding my 500 after not having ridden in a while.
Not sure how it would hold up in a 3 hour hare scrambles though since I haven't ridden one in a long time.
Zach has been a credit to the USA for many years.
He is extremely well liked and respected in Europe, for going over there, and persisting in a very difficult race series - the World Championships.
I barracked for him consistently - though I never thought he would overcome one or two blokes. That, we'll never know. Injuries, quite often from participating in the UK Nationals - a big series in itself, that his main sponsors came from (this year, they've been able to get free of those obligations), stymied his efforts.
A great young man, with a level head, and seemingly free of a lot of the BS that MX / SX contains. Good luck to him, I hope he does well in the USA, and he gets back to the World Championships, and has a tilt at the MX1 title, when he's ready.
I loved his discussions with Matthes, and others, in relation to Euro Sand Tracks, and places like '338'. Southwick is a great track, I've been there, years ago. I've also been to Europe, to a fair few GPs over the years. Southwick, looks like you could have fun, during the torture session. Places like Valkenswaard, Lierop, Lommel - no, not at all. At least for the likes of me, and 99.9999% of the MX population. Real, World Championship level tracks. Well, Southwick is, too.But, it's more 'friendly'.
As a continental euro who loves the AMA and GPs, I've got nothing but the highest respect for Zach. Such a cool friendly guy. I just decided to get back into mx again, after an 8 year absence, bought myself a 2012 KTM 150cc SX and signed up to crossfit over the winter. I still don't have a car, so the only guy I can go riding with, races endurance races. I will be able to practice once or twice, then its a 3 hour race on 13km track for my first race. Zach basically just gave me the hope that this is not a stupid idea...i just hope I can last my 1.5h stint. Its been such a long time since ive ridden...super nervous..but Spring could not have arrived sooner!!!
Thanks Weedge for hooking us up with this interview, I knew it would be good.
For all involved.
When Osborne stood tall and buckled down to do the GP thing,he won me over as a fan.
When He diversified into the off road scene it reminded me of Malcom Smith,Rodney Smith,Fred Andrews,Guy Cooper,Mike Kiedrowski and other moto guys who can flat out haul the mail,on any terrain,on any bike,and enjoy the challenge in doing so.